[Philmont]: Sunscreen & Lip Balm

<< Brought, didn't need: lip balm, plastic mirror, bug repellant, sunscreen (even on the clearest days, the sun wasn't strong enough to need it...except at lower elevations like 6-Mile Gate and in Base Camp. Although I'm light-skinned, one of our scouts is more sensitive and applied it religiously.)>>
 
Let me comment on the above, especially on two items stated as "not needed".
 
A more factual statement would be "even on the cloudiest days, at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 11,000 as it does at Philmont you need both lip baum and sun screen whether you think you do or not".
 
Not trying to be ugly, but I will stoically disagree.
 
I'll accept " I took, but did not use" or "I took, did not use but probably should have", but will not accept "did not need" as far as lip baum and sun screen are concerned.
 
First off, the "lower elevetions" at Philmont are in excess of 6,000 feet. Secondly, at that altitude, one receives a lot more UV radiation for a similar time exposure that at sea level. Thirdly, at the "high altitude" of Philmont you are in excess of 11,000 feet. The air is much thinner and the UV filtering effect is much less.
 
Rule of thumb, if you need sunglasses, you needed sun screen a lot sooner.
 
I don't have the exact figures on how much more exposure you get at those altitudes, not am I going to look it up. If that is necessary, you can look it up.
 
However, based on fifty years of experience using UV protection at high altitudes and just anytime you are outdoors, Philmont is one place that you DO NEED sun screen and you not only need lip baum, you need lip baum with sun screen in it.
 
To not take and not use lip baum w/ sun screen and sun screen on exposed skin while on the trail at Philmont is just asking for trouble. It's akin to not putting all the smellables in the bear bar because you "didn't need to" ot "I did not see any problem".
 
Out on the trail, you need it. Don't be fooled into thinking otherwise.
 
And yeah, I've heard all the "I didn't have any problems", but skin cancers take years to develop. So does lung cancer but I think we all understand the futility in the statement "I smoke but don't have any problems".
 
Of course, you don't have to depend on my judgement, just talk to a dermatologist.
 
Take and use sun screen on the trail at Philmont.
 
And if you get into one of Philmonts mosquitoe havens, and the conditions are just right, you'll wish you had some bug dope. Just a small bottle of about 1-2 oz will be enough.
 
Living on the Gulf coast, we deal with mosquitoes 24 X 7 X 365, but my most memorable mosquitoe filled night of misery was near St. Stockton, Texas in the middle of the Chahuahuan desert where it only rains about 9 inches per year. That was one miserable time without "bug dope".
 
Philmont has them, but not in many places, but where they are.........well, enough said.
 
John LeBlanc

                
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Received on Mon Sep 6 16:52:44 2004